Page 84 of Sycamore Circle

“A phone call?”

“No. It... it was more of a feeling. I thought I saw someone outside. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“I’ll get there as soon as I can. Even if it’s late, I’ll be there.”

“No. I don’t want Chloe to worry. If you show up late at night, she’s not going to be able to sleep for another week.”

“I’d rather her see me there late instead of wondering where I am when her mother is freaking out. Give me an hour and then I’ll call, okay? But if you see someone again, you call Sergeant Heilman and then call me. Nothing’s more important than you.”

“Thank you. I will.”

When he hung up, he wondered how much longer he was going to try to do everything and be everything to everyone. It wasn’t sustainable.

Worse, he reckoned it was a recipe for disaster.

CHAPTER 28

When Joy picked up Chloe, she noticed that her daughter couldn’t seem to stop looking at her phone. That wasn’t exactly a rarity, but Chloe didn’t usually look at it so intently. “What’s going on?” she asked at last. “Is Baylee in the middle of another drama?”

“No. I’ve been texting a guy—I told you about him. His name’s Finn.”

“I haven’t heard his name before. Did you meet him in French class?”

“No. I met him at Lane’s Diner.”

Alarm bells went off inside of her. She pushed them back, reminding herself that just because Chloe met someone new outside of school it didn’t mean that it was anything to worry about. “Really? What’s he like?”

“He’s Amish.”

Joy couldn’t have been happier to be driving. If they’d been facing each other, there was no way Chloe could have mistaken the look of sheer surprise that crossed her face. “I see.”

Chloe laughed. “Oh, Mom. You should see yourself, trying to act like you aren’t shocked.”

“And here I thought I was doing so good.”

“You aren’t. Anyway, Finn is Mary and Lane’s nephew. He started working there a few weeks back.”

“And now you see him when you walk over there from school.”

“Yeah. I always get a vanilla malt.” She paused. “Sometimes Mary even lets him take his break with me, so we go to the park down the road.”

“You didn’t think to tell me any of this?”

“I’m telling you now, Mom. Besides, I’m drinking a vanilla malt and sitting on a park bench. We both know it’s probably the tamest thing that’s happening in the sophomore class.”

Joy figured Chloe had a point. “How did he get a phone?”

“Some guy who used to be Amish got it for him.”

“Isn’t Finn worried about his parents finding out? Or are they okay with him having it?” She vaguely remembered the whole rumspringa thing. A lot of teenagers got cell phones during that time.

“He’s really worried, but he says it’s worth it.”

“Because he gets to text you?”

“Yeah, and because he doesn’t want to live at home much longer.”

Joy felt like she had just jumped into the middle of some Lifetime drama. “Chloe, are you sure you want to be involved with him? This Finn sounds like he’s got a lot going on.”

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